Shock-absorber.



J. B. HORNE. SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLIQATION FILED Mmmm, 1912.

1 123 878, Patented Ja11.5, 1915. y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

la) l B. BORNE. SHOCK ABSOBBEE. Arrmourlol rILnn mman. 1912.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

3 BHBBTSHBHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHBBT 3.

J. B. HORNE.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED Mmmz, 1912 1,123,878.

A gm@ JAMES B. HORNE, 0F ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS.

SI-IOCl--ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. is, 1915.

Application led March 22, 1912. Serial No. 685,525.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES B. Hormis, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Charles, in the county of Kane and State of lllinris, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbers.

'lhe object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the class known as shock absorbers for use in dampening the up and down vibrations of a vehicle on its springs when traversing rough roads or traveling over bumps Another object of this invention is to provide a device which when used in connec tion with the springs ordinarily used on a vehicle will tend to greatly retard the movement of the body away from the axles and but slightly retard the return movement of the body or the movement 'of the body t0- ward the axle. When used in conjunction with what is known as an over-slung body.

Another object of this invention is to rovide a device of the class mentioned which may be readily disassembled and reassembled.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which- Figure'l is a side elevation showing a portion of a vehicle body with my device secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal. section along the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 1s a side elevation showing the top halt of my device removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation looking at the inner side of the top half of my device shown removed in Fig. 4. F ig.` 6 is a translverse section along the line 6, 6 of Fig. Q.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of my device looking between the arms thereof. Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the cap members. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a clip member used for attaching my device to the springs.

Like numerals and characters refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

10 designates my shock absorber generally. The casing 11 is formed in two parts 12 and 13, respectively, anged'around their` outer periphery and adapted to be joined together by screws 14 or other means. Journaled in the portion 13 of the casing 11 is the disk 15 circular in contour and formed per portion of the with the peripheral inwardly extending seat 16. Projecting from one portion of the disk 15 and preferably formed integrally therewith is the arm 17 terminating in the enlarged extremity 18 shown apertured at 19. The casing member 13 is centrally apertured and provided with a circular shoulder 20 against which the seat 16 of the disk 15 abuts. This shoulder 20 forms a bearing surface for the disk 15.

Carried by the casing member 13 and covering the outwardly projecting portion of the disk 15 is the cap 21 slotted at 21 to vpermit the arm 17 to extend therethrough and move relatively to said cap. This cap :21 is preferably secured to the casing 13 by screws 22 or etc., projecting through the lugs 23 of, the cap 21.

- The disk 15 at its inner side is dished out, as shown at 23 in Fig. 5. Adjacent the up disk 15 is the slot. or aperture 24, as shown in Fig. 5, communi-Y cating with the dished out portion 23 ot' the disk 15. A stud Q5 projects inwardly from the disk 15 adjacent the outer periphery thereof. A roller Q6 is rotatably mounted on'the stud 35.

The casing member 12 is' constructed simi-- lar to the member 13 and carries the disk 15 which is similar to the disk 15 journalcd therein. as shown in Fig. Llof the drawings. This disk 15 is provided with the arm 17 similar to the arm 17 and in all other ways is so similarly constructed to the disk 15 as not to require further description here. The disk 15 carries also a stud 25 carrying the roller Q6 rotatably mounted thereon. The arrangement of the disks 15 and 15 in their respective casing members is such that when the members 12 and 13 are secured in assembled relation, as shown in Fig. Q of the drawings, the arms 17 and 17 will diverge outwardly from the casing 11.

A plate 27 is carried between the disks 15 and 15, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This plate is adapted to reciprow cate in the casing 11 and is provided with a pair of slots Q8 symmetrically located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the` plate and inclined inwardly a predetermined amount from their upper extremities adjacent the top of the plate downwardly toward the bottom of the plate, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At the lower extremity of each of these wrdlyl more rapldly, as shown at portions slots they curve ina comparatively small recess 32.

29 in Fig. 4. The studs 25 and 25 project each into one of these slots 28, the rollers 26 and 26 contacting with the side of the respective slots. When the device is in an assembled position it will be noted :hat the studs 25 and 25 lie on a line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the assembled deviceI and above the center of the disks.

The plate 27 is provided at its upper portion with a comparatively small recess 30 communicating through a small slot 31 with The casing members 12 and 13 are provided with the upwardly projecting portions 33 and 34, respectively, shown hollowed out at their inner sides as at 34 in Fig. 5.

A retarding member designated generally as 35 is adapted to be lirmly held in the hollowed out recess between lhevportions 33 and 34 of the casing members. as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Y This retarding derive comprises a cylinder 36 provided with the rib 37 intermediate its extremities and the shoulder or rib 38 adjacent its low'er portion. The portions 33 and 34 of the casing are provided with the inwardly projecting shoulders 39 and 40 res ectively, which coact with the ribs 37 an 38 of the cylinder 36 to retain the same in seated position and prevent movement thereof.

The cylinder 36 is internally threaded at -11 vat one extremity and at 42 at the other extremity. Engaging the threaded portion 41 at one end is a cap 43 projecting forwardly and terminating in a reduced portion 4l, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This cap 43 is centrally apertured and the end '1l-l thereof is .threadedly engaged b v the stutling-box or gland-4f5 carrying the packing 46. A case, 47 engages the threaded end 4:2 of the cylinder 36 and is centrally apertui-ed` and internally threaded at 4.3. This cap -17 is also provided with an outwardly 'projecting reduced portion 49 externally threaded and engaged by a flange or stutting-hox 50 carrying packing 51.

A hollow tube 52 threadedly engages the threaded aperture 48 of the cap 17 and projects into the cylinder therefrom. This tube 52 is approximately of co-extensive length with the cylinder' 36, as shown in the drawings. This tube has the' longitudinal aperture 53 extending therefrom its entire length. this aperture 53 being enlarged adjacent its extremity at 5l, the tube being provided with an internal seat 517 :idiaccnt thev connection of the larger aperture 54 with a relatively smaller aj'icrlure 53. Apertures 56 are provided furnishing cour munication between the interior of the cvlinder and -the interior of the tube through the seat A threaded valve 57 provided with the ta pered extremity 57 adapted to seat on the seat 55 of thc tube 52 thrrfledljv engages an piston 61 which slidably engages the exterior of the tubev 52, and closely fits the interior of the cylinder 36. The piston 61 is provided with passages 63 therein extending between the faces thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. A valve or washer 64 is seated on the upper face of the piston 61 around'the shoulder 61 of the piston 61. A bushing 65 threadedly engages the interior of the shoulder 61 of the piston 61 and is rovided with the circular outwardly projecting Harige (36, A spring 67 is carried between the under side ofthe flange 66 and the valve washer 6l. This spring tends to keep the valve washer 6l normally seated to close the apertures 63 through thepiston 61. lfhe piston-rod 60 is formed with a closed end 68 notched at 6i) and provided with a head 70 which is adapted to lit the recess 32 1n the plate 27, as shown in Fig. l, the notched portion 69 of the piston-rod fitting inthe reduced recess 31 of the plate 27 so that movement of the plate will actuate the piston-rod 60 by means of the engagement of the head 70 thereof. As mentioned above, the piston-rod 60 is made hollow and lits around thc tube being spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3.

liperturos 71 are provided in the piston rod 60 adjacent the undersurface of the piston 61. These apertures 71 furnish communication between the interior of the cyl-l inder 36 and the interior of the piston-rod (i0. oil or other Huid and by means of the construction described above it will be apparent that an outward movement of the piston-rod 60 and piston 61 from the position shown in Fig. 3 will allow the fluid on the under side of the piston ('1 to pass through the apertures 63 unscating the valve washer 6l and [lowing into the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston 61. lfpon a reverse stroke to the position shown in yFig. 3 the pressure of thc fluid will keep the valve lilV in seated position and the only passage for the oil or fluid will lre from the cvliuih-r through the apertures 56 down through the aperture 53 in the tubo asindirrmfd by thi` arrows. up around the outside oi' the tube 52 in the .space between saidtubo and the interior ot' the piston-rod 6() and out through the aperture 71 into the rvlindcr again, as inclsatod bv the arrows. 'lhe tortuous path along which the Huid is compelled to flow ioi' a movement of the piston 61 to the position shown in Fig. 3 will obviously greatly retard the movement ot' the sion. whereas a movement outs The cylinder 36 is adapted to contain lat wardlv from the position shown in Fig. 3 will be comparatively unretarded owing to the direct pressure of the Huid from one side of the piston to the other.

To regulate the retarding effect due to the movement of the oil or other fluid the valve -stem 57 may be moved inwardly or outwardly 'by means of theknurled head 57 so that the tapered valve portion 57 may regulate the flow of liquid through the apertures 56.

The cut away portions 24 in the disks 15 and 15 provide openings so that a rotation ofthe disks 15 and 15 will not bind or hinder the movement of the extremities 70 of the piston-rod. Oil or grease grooves 75 are provided on the interior sections 12 and13 of the casing, as shown in Figs. 3, 4

and 5 of the drawings. The dished out portions 23 of the disks also provide recesses wherein the grease may be packed to lubricate the moving members of the device.

Upwardly projecting strips 76 are carried by the member 13 and coact with the member 12 to provide side bearing surfaces for the plate 27 and to prevent leakage of the grease through the joints to the sections 12 and 13 in the casing.

The operation of the device is as f'ollows: The arms 17 and 17 being secured between the members of a vehicle spring or between the body of the vehicle and the axle thereof, upon the wheel of the vehicle striking a. bump or projection in the road so as to cause the axle to move toward the body the extremities of the arm 17 and 17 will be moved together, the movement being retarded somewhat owing to the engagement of the rollers 26 and 26 with their respective slots 28 in the plate 27. As is apparent in ,the drawings, these slots being slightly inclined with respect to the vertical a rotation of the disks caused by the movement of the extremities of the arms 17 and 17 toward each other through the medium of the lugs 25, 25', and rollers 2G, 26 in the slots 28 will cause the plate 27 to be forced downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4. This is due to the fact that the lugs 25, 25 are located above the center of the disk, and upon the rotation mentioned above they will move outwardly from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Since they are continuously in Contact with the sides of the slots 28 in order forsuch slots to correspond with the changing positions of the studs it will be necessarwv for the plate 27 t0 be forced down. Obviously the force applied to the sides ct the slots by the rollers 26 and 26 resolved along the axis of the slots will be greatly diminished. In other words a comimratively large force 'applied to the extremities of the arms 17 and 17 will be required to force the plate 27 in either direction so that a certain retarding effect is present when the arms 17 and 17 are moved together as stated. In addition to the retarding effect resulting from the inclination of the slots is that due to the retarding device 35 through the connection of the piston-rod 60 with the plate 27. As mentioned above this retarding effect is comparatively slight on the forward movement of the piston-rod from the position shown in Fig. 4 and is comparatively great on the upward movement of the same to the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the retarding effect due to the engagement of the studs 25 and 25 and the slots 28 of the plate 27 being equal for both movements of the plate the additive retarding or dampening effect of the member will cause a considerably greater resistance to the movement of the plate on the upward stroke than on the downward stroke so that with the whole device arranged and applied to the machine as shown in the drawings a comparatively slight resistance will be interposed to the movement of the axleof the vehicle toward the body and a comparatively great resistance will be interposed to the movement of. the body away from the axle. By this means the beneficial effect of the ordinary springs is preserved, while the unpleasant vibrating of the vehicle after the first shock of encountering a bump is eliminated by the comparatively great resistance to the movement of the body from the axle.

In the practical application shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have secured the apertured extremity of the arms 17 to a bolt or stud 80 carried by the body of the vehicle wheel. The apertured extremity of the arm 17 is carried on a stud 81 forming part of the U-shaped clip 82 by which the lower half 83 of the spring member is secured to the axle 84 of the vehicle. -In this application I have shown my device used in connection with what is `known as three-quarter elliptic springs. It is obvious that by slight changes in the methodof applying the same this device might be used in connection with half elliptic or full elliptic springs. It is also applicable to use with the type of ve' hicle known as under-slung by ervaring the operation of the retarding member 35.

I -do not wish to be restricted to the exact form of device shown or described beyond the scope of the appended claims.v

I claim: 7,..

1. In a shock absorber, a pair f relatively rotatable members, a plate carried between said members, said plate being reciprocable relative to andoperatively connected to said members to resist the movement thereof, whereby rotation' of said rotatable members will 'cause relative reciprocation of said plate.

2. In a shock absorber, a pair of relatively rotatable disks, a plate mounted between said disks, said plate being reciprocable relative to and operatively connected to said disks, in such wise that said plate will retard the movement of and be reciprocated relative to said disks. upon rotation of the latter.

3. In shock absorber, a pair of relatively rotatable mei'nbers, a. plate mounted between said members, said plate being reciprocable relative to and operatively connected to said members, in such wise that rotation of said members will cause relative reciprocation of said plate, and means to nesist the mo'v ment of said plate.

4. In a shock absorber, arms, a movement resisting plate provided with inclined slots, means carried by said arms engaging the slots in said plate, said plate being reciprou cable relative to said arms, whereby rotation of the latter will effect the reciprocation of said plate and resist the movement of said arms.

5. .In a shock absorber. a pair of arms, a plate provided with inclined slots, means carried by said arms engaging with slots in said plate, said plate being reciprocable relative to said arms. said slots being so arranged that said plate, while being reciprocated by said arms, will resist the movement thereof.

6. In a shock absorber, a pair of rotatable members.V a plate carried between said members, said .plate being reciprocable relative to said members and being operatively connected thereto. to resist the movement there4 of, rotation ot' said 'members being adapted to reciprocate said plate relative thereto, and means to resist themovement of said plate, said means being adapted to furnish a cdmparativcly great resistance to the movement of said plate in one direction. and a comparatively slight resistance to the movement of said plate in the oppositedirection.

7. In a device of' the class described` a` casing, a disk journaled in each side of said casing, and a plate carried between said disks, Said plate being provided with inclined slots, said disks being provided with means cngagin said slots.

8. l a device of the class described, a pair of disks, a plate carried between said disks, a stud ycarried by cach of said disks, and a roller carried by each ot said studs, said plate being provided with a pair of symmetrically disposed inclinedl slots, said studs and rollers beingl carried in said slots.

9. In a device of the class described, a pair of disks, a plate carried between said disks, a stud carried by each ot' said disks, a roller carried by each of said studs, said plate being provided with a pair of symmetrically disposed inclined slots. said studs and rollers being carried in said slots, and means resistin the movementof said plate, said means being detaohably secured to said plate.

l0. In a device of the class described, a

casing. disk rotatably journaled in each side ff Aiid casing, a plate carried between said sai pl; e being provided with slots lined l.inwardly and downwardly bcfm: sul/piledI to be detachably secured to 'nid plete, th,movement 0f said piston and pi a rod being adapted to be resisted by iue fund in said cylinder.

ii ln a device ne" tra... casing. :i disk rotan side m said casing a :arried between said disks, said paare neng provided with slots inclined inwardly and toward ea h other from adjacent one end thereof, eadh of said disks being provided with an inwardly projecting stud and roller engaging one of said slots, a fluid containing cylinder adapted to be securelyY seated in said casing, a piston carried in said cylinder, land a piston-rod secured to said piston and projecting therefrom, the extremity of said pistonrod being adapted to be detachably secured to said plate, the movement of said piston and piston-rod being adapted to be resisted bv the fluid in said cylinder, said piston being constructed to permit the flow of said liquid therethrough when moving in one direction.

1Q. In a device of the class described, a casing, a disk rotatably journaled in each side of said casing. a plate carried between said disks, said plate being provided with slots inclined inwardly and downwardly from adjacent the top thereof, each of said disks being provided with an inwardly projecting stud and roller engaging one of said slots, a fluid containing cylinder adapted to be securely seated in said casing, a piston carried in said cylinder. and a piston-rod secured to said piston and projecting therefrom, the extremity of said piston-rod being adapted to be detachably secured to said plate. the movement of said piston and piston-rod being adapted to be resisted by the fluid in said cylinder, said piston-rod being constructed to permit the flow of liquid from one side of the piston to the other when the latter is moving.

13. In a device of the class described, a casing. a disk rotatably journaled in each side of said casing` a plate carried between class described, a f io nalen 1n each said disks, said plate being provided with slots, afluid containing cylinder adapted to be securely seated in said casing, a piston carried in said cylinder, and a piston-rod secured to said piston and projecting there from the eitremity of said pistonfrod being adapted to be detachably secured. to said plate, the uiovcmcntiofsaid piston and pis- 'ton-rod being .adaptedto be resisted by the fluid in said cylinder, said piston being constructed to permit the "How: of said liquid therethrough when moving inone direction, said piston-rod being adapted to permit the flow of liquid therethrough from either'side' of said piston. i .v

14. 1n a device o'fithe class described., a .casing comprising n pair ofseparable sections, said sections eachbeing provided 'with a depressedv flange portion` said .depressed portions forming an aperture when said sections are united, the wall of said aperture being provided with a groove therein, and a cylinder adapted to closely t in said aperture, said cylinder being provided with a collar seating in said groove of said aperture wall, rotatable members mounted in said casing, and movement resisting meanscarried by said cylinder', said rotatable ,mem-

bers bein0f operatively connected to said resisting means. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

JAMES B. HORNE.`

Witnesses: i 'i HENRY A. PARKS, EDYTHE M` ANDERSON. 

